Automatic governor for air-compressors.



C. NORLAND.

AUTOMATIC GOVERNOR FOR AIR GOMPRESSORS. APPLIOATION FILED 1330.21, 1906.

908,692. Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

Wzk.

-cL'.i.-RE`N=GE NonLANn, on Los ANGELES, .GALIFofRNrA-- avremmo comme Fon mommssees.

Spedcatiom of Letten Distant, rappresen mea December 21, laos. sel-:n n. seam.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it -known that I, CLARENCE N ORLAND, a. citizen of the United States, residin at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Ange es-and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Governors for Air-Com ressors, of. which the following is a speci cation.

My invention aims to provide certain improvements in automatic governors for air com ressors, Asuch as electrically operated ilui pumps, which maintain a fluid pressure in a reservoir from which the pressure is drawn as needed-such, for'example, as the pumping systems for compressed air for railroad brakes. My invention provides such a governor in which a cylinder and piston are used to operate the electric-switch which controls the electric'motor that operates the fluid pressure pump.

Another object is to provide a governor in which the arc created by opening the electric switch is extinguished by pneumatic means.

A further object is to provide a governor which is simple in construction and highly eiiicient in operation.

I accomplish these objects by means of the device described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1.-1s a central longitudinal section through my improved governor showing it in its operative position. Fig. 2.-is a central longitudinal section through my improved governor showing it in its inoperative position. Fig. 3.is a transverse section taken on line 3 3 of Fi 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. ig. 4.-is a diagrammatic view of the governor' showin it in its operative relation to the pump an receiving reservoir and its electrical circuit.

Referring to the drawings, the switch comprises a stationary member 5 and a movable member 6, to the terminals of which, lines 7 and 8 are secured. These lines form a part of thecircuit otfthe electric motor 9 that operates the air compressor 10. Member 5 is rigidly secured to an ins lating base 11 which is rigidly secured to lugs 12 roj'ecting from the exterior of switch control lng c linderf13. Member 6 is carried by a slidab e arm 14 which reci rocates in a guideway y 1 5 secured to the insu ating base 1.1. The outer end of this slidable arm 1 4 is rigidlyl secured to an arm 16, which arm is`connected at right angles to the outer end ot pistonv rod 17. Piston `rod 17 is provided with the usualfpiston .'18

-which is'adapted to reciprocate cylinder 25mm: D s,

contact with an arm 26 rigidly secure to the v sprin arm 27, saidarm being rigidly secured to .cy 'nder 13 in a suitable manner. Onfthe outer end of arm 27 is secured a valve-stopper f 28 which is adapted toseat wit'han exhaust port 29 at certain intervals during the operation ofthe overnor, as will'be more panticularly descri ed hereinafter.

Rigidly secured by means of.' bolts 30 lto one end of cylinder 1,3 is a valve controlling cylinder 31 'closed on the end that contacts with cylinder 1 3. Secured to the open end of controlling cylinder 31 by means of the bolts 30 is the cylindrical casing 32 which iS provided on its outer end with a screw threaded closure 33. Inter osed between cilinder 31 and casing 32 is t e flexible diap ragm 34 to which is secured in the center thereof aud at right angles thereto, guide rods 35 and 36. Mounted on rod 36 and interposed between the diaphragm 34 and the closure 33 is a coiled tension spring 37, by means of which valve stopper 38 mounted on rod 35 is brought into or out of engagement with the ort 39 in the closed end of cylinder 31. alve sto per 38 is slide/bly mounted on rod 35, yandp 1s provided with a longitudinal slot 40 through which a 1n 41 transversely secured to the end of t e rod 35 passes. Interposed between pin 41an-d the flanged outer end of valve stopper 38 is a coiled tension spring 42, the urpose of which is to instantly withdraw t e stop er 38 from engagement with the port 39. e-

cured to theend ofthe stop er 38is a pin- 43,

the purpose of which isvto old the stopper 28 out of engagement with exhaust port' 29 so that the remaining air in cylinder 13 will be exhausted, thus allowing the lug 25. on

piston 1,8 to contact with arm 26, this oper.- ation only occurring when the air inv the reservoir 44 reaches the maximum amount.

`Reservoir 44 is connected to chamber 31 by pipe connection 4.5, and to lpump 10 by pipe connection 46,' an outlet Aipe 47 connectlng the braking mechanism not shown). Line 8 leads tothe ltrolley wire 48 through the medium of the trolley pole 49 and the wheel in the valve stop er 38.

50. Line 7 leads from member 5 through the electric motor connected to the pump 10 to a suitable ground 51..

The operation of the device is as follows To successfully o erate the brakes of an electrically pro el ed vehicle such as I have described my evice as being applied to, it should have at least a pressure ranging from 60 to 80 pounds in the' receiving reservoir 44. lVhcn the pressure falls below the minimum the motorman is often unable to control the braking mechanism. Vhen the pressure in the receiving reservoir has fallenbelow the minimum the governor isthen in the position as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings with the switch in its closed position and the iluid pressure pump 10 operating. As the pressure in the reservoir 44 increases, the diaphragm 34 is forced outwardly against the tension of the coiled spring 37, the air in the -controlling cylinder 31 retaining the valve stopper 38 in its seated-position until in 41 on rod36 has receded to the rear of s ot 40 Coil spring 42 which surrounds va ve stopper 38 has 'at this time accumulated suicient tension to instantly unseat the valve stopper, allowing the air to rush through the port 39 into cylinder 13 which forces the piston rearwardly against the tension of spring 20 until the movable member 6 of the switch is out of engagement with thestationary member 5. Before contact lug' 25 on piston 18 can leave arm 26, movable'member 6 has just left the stationary member 5, and the arc created by the opening ofthe switch will be extinguished by the air rushing through exhaust 29 and through aperture 52 in the insulating base 11. After the arc has been extinguished valve stopper 28 on the further movement of the iston 18 seats itself, thus closing the exaust. Asvthe air is withdrawn from reservoir 44 diaphragm 34 begins to recede until the valve sto per 38 seats itself the pin 39 on theend o4 the stop er contacting with spring arm 27 until the ug 25 on the piston 18 contacts with the arm 26, thus allowing all the remaining air in cylinder 13 to be exhausted after the stopper 38 has seatedv itself, thereby insuring va perfect contact of the members of the switch.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that I have produced a highly e'flicient device by means of which a contlnuous supply of air is forced to the receivmg reservoir, doing away with the uncertalnty that usually attends the operation of 'governors of this character.

Having described my invention what I claim is 1. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a switch; a c linder provided with an exhaust port and aving a piston operativel connected to said switch;l a controlling c amber directly and constantly open to reservoir pressure secured to one end of said cylinder and adapted to communicate therewith; means in said chamber for controlling the communication between the chamber and the cylinder, and means foil o ening the exhaust port in said 'cylinder wlllen communication between cylinder and chamber is closed, said exhaust being directed against the contact point of said switch.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a switch; a cylinder provided with an exhaust port and having a piston operatively connected to said switch; a controlling chamber directly and constantly o en to reservoir pressure secured to one end ci) said cylinderl and adapted to communicate therewith; means in said chamber for controlling the communication between the chamber and the cylinder, means in said chamber for opening said exhaust as communication between cylinder' and chamber is closed, and `additional means in Asaid cylinder for maintaining said exhaust in open I condition while communication between cylinder and chamber is opened.

Civ

3. In an automatic governor for air come having' avspring pressed valve stopper adapt-` ed to be operated by the piston, said exhaust port terminating outside of said cylinder adjacent the stationaryv pole of said switch; a valve controllin r chamber secured to one end of said cylinder and communicating therewith; means to supply said controlling chamber with luid pressure; a flexible diaphragm secured to the open end of the valve controlling chamber, said diaphragm having lugs secured thereto in the center thereof, one on either side of said diaphragm; a sprin operated valve stopper slidingly mounter on one of said lugs; and a coil sprmw mounted on the other lug secured to said diaphragm adapted to force said diaphragm inwardly when the air in the valve controli ling chamber falls below a predetermined pressure.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a switch ;a c linder having a piston operatively connecter to said switch, and provided Awith an exhaust port; a controlling chamber constantly open to reservoir wmbiwionof a switch; a' i I the valve in said chamber for' openings'aidj piston operatively connecte to saidswitcli",

and providedV with an exhaust port; vacontrolling chamber constantly op'en to `reservoir pressure adapted to commumcate-withfsaid c linder when the pressure in the controlling c ber reaches a predetermined maximum j.

communication wlien'a predetermined; res# Aspring-pressed .to close said exhaust? means '--o en said valve-,aud Vadditionaliiije'ams. upon t e valvein theontrolling 15 combination 'of a'ls'witch; afcylinder piston operativelyaconnectedlto said switch and providedyvith an exhaustport ;1a` con? trolling chamber .constantly open to'reservoir" in sai c.ol 1 tro`"' Vcham r; a'stopperfvf ve; slidab mounted in said operatng cl1amberandgfadapted to Vbe actuated'fb 'said phragm -.to Vclose saidA seating-said stopper'.valve-visuals pressure in the Acontrolling chamberieaclles a maximum; al in u on the seatingendfof' said -stopper v ve a apted; to extendfinto` 'saldlport betweenz'tbe'jfcylinder lcon'- trolling chamber ;f and aspring a Platon. operatively ed t0 saidv have vhereunto subscribed myname 14th day o f-Uecember, 1906.7-

'NORLAND-Yl Jiswitchga controlling 'exhaustportinsaid cylinderdird against' A -the contacts'of said switch,means locatedin said -cylinder for `holding'-said 'p ort to ex-V in the cylinderfor controlling the 'exha'ust, port thereof, andadapted to Abefaictuated by contact with said pin on the stopper valve;`

lf7.V 'In a device of thecharecte'rdescribed, the com binationof a svv'itchg-faV "ylijnder havchamba open to reservoir pressurefan da ted to communicate with said (-,'yli r'1'der ^1 en ther Huid pressure has reached its'l maxunurmfan.

'direct the reservoir contacts of 4saidsiiiitc and "means'loc'ted insaid lcylinderwhereby said fluid pr ure- 'direct' means S'maintainedin-anzo' ra5" 1. until'the piston'in said cylinder;-

.tive-posltion 'has rQeded-i 19; In a' device Vof-the'class described, the Y v combination ofv a switeli,' -acylinde'r having' a'fpiston operativel connected tosaid sw1tcl1', f 'aicontro pressure an 'adapted to .commumcatew1th manso Vreached the maximum, a blast portin saidcylinder directed:against the contacts.offsa1 d A switch," means located saidylinder for' maintaining anunimpeded assage through (part1al1y-re- 'l 'controlling' chamber to simultaneously o 'en'gtbie.blast' port in said cylinder and to c ose the com "munica'tion between said controlling cham# cylinder when the fluid pressure .has reachedtheminimum. E 1

pressed-valve' "ber and said hasreached the minimum.

pistono erativelyconnected to said switcb, a contro lchamber connected to reservo1-r7v pressure an adapted tocqmmunicate said cylinder. when ythe` 'fluidp1j'a'ssur e} nsesfgl; abovel vthe noI 1n'a.1;l means to simultaneously" v ressureql against the said cylinder "when the "fluid pressure has'v said dportuntil the p1s ton' asv cede and means located in sai Cha-mf; i rassure haustI until 'the piston inj'said: cylinder has. 'Y recede'd, and locatedin said 'control-" chamber' to "simultaneouslyopen the ex- 'baust port Vnjsfaid cylinder andto close comln lunication lbetween said controlling ber and said cylinder when the fluid s; Ina devi'nf the classid "fasted-,fine combinationofa switch, a cylinder having a 1 #5,.- 

